Skirt-protector



I (No Model.)

' G. A. BLANGHARD. Y

SKIRT PROTEGTOR.

Patented Apr. 3,1883. F 1 la UNITED STATES PATENT Grantee.

GEORGE A. BLANCHARI), OF MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS.

SKI RT-PROTECTO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 275,014, dated April 3, 1883.

' Application filed January 15, 1883. (No model.)

To all who; it may concern:

Be it known thatI, GEORGE A. BLANCHARD, of Malden, in the State of Massachusetts, have inveutedan Improved Skirt-Protector,of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is the protection ofladies dress and underskirts in stormy weather, or when the streets are muddy or dirty; and it consists in the construction and combination of the divers devices or parts'embodied therein, as will, in connection with the accompanying drawings, be hereinafter fully described, and specifically defined in the appended claims.

Figure 1 shows my invention in longitudinal vertical section and as supported upon a layfigure. Fig. 2 shows my invention in perspective, with a portion of the outer and inner wall broken away to show its construction. Fig. 3 is a detached perspective view, showing a portion of the inner wall and hoop, the supporting-strap attached to said wall, and the band for attachment to the limb of the wearer. Fig. 4 represents myinvention, in perspective, as being worn by a lady, also shown in perspective.

In said views, a represents the skirt proper, which should, for use in stormy weather, be made of the well-known gossamer rubber cloth or other water-proof material, but which may, for use when the weather is fair but the streets foul, be formed of linen or other suitable ma.- terial not water-proof. This skirt is formed of the usual fullness from the waist downward to the point marked 1), from whence it is contracted in its circumference to form the pocket 0, to be arranged inside of part a, as shown in Figs-1 and 2. An elastic hoop, e, is secured to the edge of pocket 0, as shown, and two or more straps, f. are secured to said pocket, adjacent to said hoop e, as shown in Fig. 3. These straps are arranged to be secured to bands 9 byaringand hook,as shown,orbyothermeans, and said bands are secured to the limbs of the wearer, as shown in Fig. 1. From point I) a flounce, d, of the requisite fullness, descends the proper distance, as shown.

The application and operation of my inven-' tion are asfollows: Theintendingwearer, being dressed, will place this skirt over her dress and secure it at the waist in any desired manner. Then pocket 0 is raised upinside the skirts of the dress and under-clothing, and is secured in such position by means of bands 9 or other means,the skirts of the dress and under-clothing (marked h) falling naturally, and without care of the wearer, into the space between skirt a and pocket 0, as shown.

Instead of using the bands 9, secured to the limbs of the wearer, the pocket 0 may be secured and supported by straps depending from a band secured to the waist, or by straps depending from the shoulders; and the skirt a,

pocket 0, and flouuce (I may allbe formed sepa rately and united together at b, if desired; but the flounce should in all cases, whether the skirt ais formed of water-proof material or not, be formed of or faced upon the inside with water-proof material, for the purpose of cleaning off the mud that maybe communicated thereto by the feet of the wearer, without saturation of the ilounce.

My protector may be united with a waist, so as to form an entire outer dress; but it is usually found preferable to have it extend only to the waist of the wearer, where it can be secured in any desired manner.

By reason of the elasticity of hoop c, usually formed of the well-known hoop-skirt wire, my protector can be folded into avery small space, and carried in a small hand-bag or satchel, ready for use at all times; and it can be quickly donned, as no removal of any of the clothing is requisite for that purpose, and when worn all the skirts of the wearer are protected, not only from falling rain, but from the wet and dirt ot' the street, or the usual effect of contact with the shoes of the wearer.

1am awarethatitiscommon to makeand wear a double skirt, one end or extremity of which is first secured to the waist of the wearer, inside of all the usual underskirts, after which said underskirts and the dress are donned, when the opposite end of the protector is brought up outside of the dress and secured at the waist, and I make no claim thereto, my protector being so constructed that it can only be applied after. the dress and all the underclothing are in position upon the wearer, and it can be so applied without removal of any part of the clothing.

I claim as my invention 1. A skirt-protectorformed with exterior part, a, and the interior hooped pocket, 0, the latter secured at one of its edges to part a, and ar- 0, secured to said skirt, elastic hoop e, secured 1o ranged to form, when its free edgeis raised and t0 the free edge of said pocket, and straps f, supported, aconcentric receptacle for the dress for supporting such free edge of the pocket, and under skirts h, substantially as specified. substantially as specified. 5 2. In a skirt-protector, the combination of skirt a, flounce d, pocket 0, and elastic hoop GEORGE BLANLHARD' 12, substantially as specified. Witnesses:

3. In a skirt-proteot0r, the combination of T. W. PORTER, skirt a, havingthe extension or flounce [1, pocket EUGENE HUMPHREY. 

